Channel 4 has announced that Married At First Sight UK will not be returning, after questions were raised about the safeguarding of its contestants.
Earlier this year, the reality show was pulled from Channel 4’s streaming service in light of a BBC Panorama special, featuring accounts from three former contestants who have accused their co-stars of sexual misconduct.
An external review into the welfare of Married At First Sight UK contestants was commissioned in April, with the broadcaster announcing on Thursday morning that it had been decided that it would not return.
Chief executive Priya Dogra said in a statement: “Welfare across all our programmes is a primary concern, so we welcome the review, its findings and recommendations.
“MAFS UK has been enjoyed by millions of viewers, made possible by the willingness of its contributors to embrace the social experiment at the heart of the show and the many talented people involved in its production.
“I am grateful to everyone at Channel 4 and CPL Productions who has worked on the show and want to thank them for their significant efforts to protect the welfare of contributors, something which was recognised in both reviews.”
She continued: “Whilst the review praised the welfare protocols in place and made no findings that Channel 4 breached the Ofcom Code or that the format is inherently unsafe, I have to consider when is the right time for Channel 4 to move on from a format.
“The recommendations are eminently sensible and feasible, but considering their wholesale implementation provoked fundamental questions about the editorial proposition of a show that, I believe, has now run its course over ten years.
“Channel 4 has always thrived on reinvention and this is a moment to kickstart a new era of creative renewal, using the considerable budget to find the next generation of distinctive and disruptive British television.”
She added: “This review did not have the authority to adjudicate on the very serious allegations made by three women in the Panorama programme, but I would like to repeat that I am very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt.
“I hope our actions – in swiftly commissioning the review and taking clear, decisive steps – demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of all contributors and our desire to relentlessly strengthen industry standards.”
Channel 4 said in a news release that it “intends to share the review’s learnings and recommendations on contributor welfare with other broadcasters and encourage the industry to work together to reinforce welfare protocols across reality TV and drive sector-wide progress”.
Married At First Sight UK’s budget will now be “reinvested in distinctive new programming”.
The British version of Married At First Sight ran for 10 seasons between 2015 and 2025.
An 11th season was shot earlier this year, but will remain unaired.
